Information recording medium, recording method, data structure, information recording apparatus, program, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A disk-shaped rewritable information recording medium having at a first recording layer and a second recording layer is disclosed. The information recording medium includes a first data area situated in the first recording layer, the first data area having a plurality of addresses allocated thereto, the plural addresses continuously increasing in a first direction, a second data area situated in the second recording layer, the second data area having a plurality of addresses allocated thereto, the plural addresses continuously increasing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a management information area having an area for recording end recorded area information thereto, the end recorded area information including information for identifying an area in the second data area having data that corresponds to an end position of the second data area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information recording medium, arecording method, a data structure, an information recording apparatus,a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to arewritable information recording medium having multiple recordinglayers, a recording method for recording information to a rewritableinformation recording medium having multiple recording layers, a datastructure of information to be recorded to said information recordingmedium, an information recording apparatus capable of recordinginformation to a rewritable information recording medium having multiplerecording layers, a program used for said information recordingapparatus, and a recording medium to which said program is recorded.

BACKGROUND ART

Along with the advances of digital technology and improvement of datacompression technology in recent years, optical disks such as DVDs(Digital Versatile Disk) are receiving greater attention as informationrecording media for recording information including, for example, music,movies, and photographs (hereinafter referred to as “contents”).Furthermore, more optical disk apparatuses are being used as informationrecording apparatuses for recording contents to disks as the price ofthe optical disk is becoming lower. It is to be noted that apparatusesfor accessing information recording media are collectively referred toas “drive apparatuses”.

As for recordable optical disks (also referred to as “recording typedisk”) that are commercially sold, there is a write-once type disk(write-once-read-many optical disk) to which information can be writtenonly once (e.g., DVD+R, DVD-R) and a rewritable type disk (e.g., DVD+RW,DVD-RW).

Furthermore, the recording capacity of recording type disks is expectedto further increase along with an increase in the amount of informationcontained in the contents. Furthermore, as a measure for increasing theamount of information recordable on a recording type disk, vigorousresearch and development being made on a recording type disk havingmultiple recording layers (hereinafter referred to as “multilayerrecording type disk”) and an apparatus for handling the multilayerrecording type disk (See, for example, Japanese Laid-Open PatentApplication No. 8-96406).

It is to be noted that a single-sided dual layer DVD-ROM (DVD-ROM havingtwo layers on one side of the disk) is being commercially sold as a readonly memory disk having two recording layers. In the single-sided duallayer DVD-ROM, information on each recording layer is reproduced byirradiating a laser beam from one side and matching the focal point ofthe laser beam to each recording layer. That is, with the single-sideddual layer DVD-ROM, information can be reproduced without having to turnover (flip over) the disk. In the single-sided dual layer DVD-ROM, datais required to be recorded on both first and second recording layers(for example, Layer 0, Layer 1) of the disk. For example, supposing thatLayer 0 is a recorded layer having data recorded thereto and Layer 1 isan unrecorded layer having no data recorded thereto, address informationmay be obtained and an address error may occur in a case where vibrationor the like during a seek operation or a reproduction operation causesthe laser beam to focus on Layer 1. Therefore, without having datarecorded to both layers, the Dual Layer DVD-ROM will be determined to bea defective disk and may be unable to continue reproduction of data.

Meanwhile, since conventional drive apparatuses corresponding to a readonly memory type optical disk are widely used, it is important that thecontents recorded to the multilayer recording type disk can also bereproduced with a conventional drive apparatus. That is, the contentsrecorded to a recording type disk are required to be logicallycompatible with the conventional read only memory optical disk.

Therefore, in a case where a multilayer recording type disk is expectedto be reproduced with a conventional drive apparatus, some kind of datais to be recorded in the unrecorded area (area where no contents arerecorded) of the disk so that all of the multiple recording layers ofdisks have data recorded thereto. However, in a case where the amount ofinformation contained in the contents is little with respect to therecording capacity of the multilayer recording type disk, a vast amountof time is required for recording dummy data in the unrecorded area ofthe disk. This may lead to degrading of recording performance. Thedegrading of recording performance may occur particularly with arewritable multilayer recording type disk that conducts a formattingprocess in the background. Since contents can be recorded before aformatting process is actually completed, the rewritable multilayerrecording type disk will have an undesired coexistence of a recordedarea (area to which the contents are recorded), a dummy data area (areato which dummy data is recorded), and an unrecorded area (area to whichno data is recorded) after the contents are recorded to the disk.Furthermore, in a process of providing logical compatibility with a readonly memory optical disk, there is a risk that dummy data recorded tothe disk in the formatting process may be overwritten. This results infurther degrading of recording performance.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording medium, a recording method, a data structure, aninformation recording apparatus, a program, and a recording medium thatsubstantially obviate one or more of the problems caused by thelimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

It is another general object of the present invention to provide arewritable information recording medium having multiple recording layerswhich can be provided with compatibility to a read only memoryinformation recording medium at a short time.

It is yet another general object of the present invention to provide adata structure which can provide compatibility to a read only memoryinformation recording medium at a short time with respect to arecordable information recording medium.

It is yet another general object of the present invention to provide arecording method and an information recording apparatus which canprovide compatibility to a read only memory information recording mediumat a short time with respect to a rewritable information recordingmedium having multiple recording layers.

It is yet another general object of the present invention to provide aprogram executed by a computer (controlling computer) of an informationrecording apparatus for providing compatibility to a read only memoryinformation recording medium at a short time with respect to arewritable information recording medium having multiple recordinglayers, and a recording medium having such program recorded thereto.

Features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will become apparent from thedescription and the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practiceof the invention according to the teachings provided in the description.Objects as well as other features and advantages of the presentinvention will be realized and attained by an information recordingmedium, a recording method, a data structure, an information recordingapparatus, a program, and a recording medium particularly pointed out inthe specification in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as toenable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice theinvention.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, theinvention provides a disk-shaped rewritable information recording mediumhaving at a first recording layer and a second recording layer, theinformation recording medium including: a first data area situated inthe first recording layer, the first data area having a plurality ofaddresses allocated thereto, the plural addresses continuouslyincreasing in a first direction; a second data area situated in thesecond recording layer, the second data area having a plurality ofaddresses allocated thereto, the plural addresses continuouslyincreasing in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and amanagement information area having an area for recording end recordedarea information thereto, the end recorded area information includinginformation for identifying an area in the second data area having datathat corresponds to an end position of the second data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the management information area may further have anarea for recording start recorded area information thereto, the startrecorded area information including information for identifying an areato which data is continuously recorded from a start position of acombined data area including the first data area and the second dataarea.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the management information area may further have anarea for recording reference recorded area information thereto, thereference recorded area information including information foridentifying an area to which data is continuously recorded from areference position provided in the second data area.

Furthermore, the present invention provides another disk-shapedrewritable information recording medium having at least a firstrecording layer and a second recording layer, the information recordingmedium including: a first data area situated in the first recordinglayer, the first data area having a plurality of addresses allocatedthereto, the plural addresses continuously increasing in a firstdirection; a second data area situated in the second recording layer,the second data area having a plurality of addresses allocated thereto,the plural addresses continuously increasing in a second directionopposite to the first direction; and a management information areaincluding end recorded area information, the end recorded areainformation including information for identifying an area in the seconddata area having data that corresponds to an end position of the seconddata area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the end recorded area information may be informationrelated to an end position of an unrecorded area situated at a positionin the second data area that is nearest to the end position of thesecond data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the management information area may further includereference recorded area information for identifying an area to whichdata is continuously recorded from a reference position provided in thesecond data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the first direction may be a direction oriented froman inner periphery of the information recording medium to an outerperiphery of the information recording medium, wherein the seconddirection may be a direction oriented from the outer periphery of theinformation recording medium to the inner periphery of the informationrecording medium.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the first data area and the second data area may havelogical addresses continuing from a start position of the first dataarea to an end position of the second data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the management information area may further includestart recorded area information for identifying an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of a combined data areaincluding the first data area and the second data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the start recorded area information may beinformation related to an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from the start position of the combined data area.

In the information recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the start recorded area information may includeinformation indicative of an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of the first data area inthe first recording layer, and information indicative of an end positionof an area to which data is continuously recorded from a start positionof the second data area in the second recording layer.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a recording method forrecording information to a disk-shaped rewritable information recordingmedium having at least a first recording layer provided with a firstdata area having a plurality of addresses allocated thereto and a secondrecording layer provided with a second data area having a plurality ofaddresses allocated thereto, the plural addresses of the first data areacontinuously increasing in a first direction, the plural addresses ofthe second data area continuously increasing in a second directionopposite to the first direction, the recording method including a stepof: recording end recorded area information to the information recordingmedium for identifying an area in the second data area having data thatcorresponds to an end position of the second data area.

In the recording method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the recording method may further include a step of: recordingstart recorded area information to the information recording medium foridentifying an area to which data is continuously recorded from a startposition of a combined data area including the first data area and thesecond data area.

In the recording method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the recording method may further include a step of: recordingreference recorded area information to the information recording mediumfor identifying an area to which data is continuously recorded from areference position provided in the second data area.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a recording method forrecording information to the information recording medium according toan embodiment of the present invention, the recording method including astep of: recording data for making the information recording mediumcompatible with a read only memory information recording medium byreferring to the start recorded area information and the end recordedarea information recorded to the management information area of theinformation recording medium.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a data structure ofinformation for being recorded to the management information area in theinformation recording medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the data structure includes: end recorded area informationincluding information for identifying an area in the second data areahaving data that corresponds to an end position of the second data area.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an information recordingapparatus for recording information to a disk-shaped rewritableinformation recording medium having at least a first recording layerprovided with a first data area having a plurality of addressesallocated thereto and a second recording layer provided with a seconddata area having a plurality of addresses allocated thereto, the pluraladdresses of the first data area continuously increasing in a firstdirection, the plural addresses of the second data area continuouslyincreasing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, theinformation recording apparatus including: a recording part forrecording data to a designated recording layer among the recordinglayers of the information recording medium; a process apparatus forrecording end recorded area information to the information recordingmedium via the recording part, the end recorded area informationincluding information for identifying an area in the second data areahaving data that corresponds to an end position of the second data area.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the end recorded area information may be informationrelated to an end position of an unrecorded area situated at a positionin the second data area that is nearest to the end position of thesecond data area.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, when dummy data is recorded to the second data area,the end recorded area information is updated in correspondence with thearea to which the dummy data is recorded.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the first data area and the second data area may havelogical addresses continuing from a start position of the first dataarea to an end position of the second data area.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may record start recorded areainformation to the information recording medium via the recording part,start recorded area information including information for identifying anarea to which data is continuously recorded from a start position of acombined data area including the first data area and the second dataarea.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the start recorded area information may beinformation related to an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from the start position of the combined data area.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the end recorded area information may includeinformation indicative of an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of the first data area inthe first recording layer, and information indicative of an end positionof an area to which data is continuously recorded from a start positionof the second data area in the second recording layer.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may further record data formaking the information recording medium compatible to a read only memoryinformation recording medium via the recording part by referring to thestart recorded area information and the end recorded area informationrecorded to the management information area of the information recordingmedium.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, when the area identified by the start recorded areainformation is entirely included in the first data area, the processapparatus may record dummy data, via the recording part, to anunrecorded area situated between a position in the second data areasituated at a same radial position as an end position identified by thestart recorded area information and a start position identified by theend recorded area information.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may record a first intermediatearea data to an area following the identified area in the first dataarea via the recording part and records a second intermediate area datato an area in the second data area situated at a same radial position asthe intermediate area in the first data area via the recording part.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may obtain identificationinformation including information for identifying an area in the seconddata area to which user data is recorded.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the identification information may further includeinformation for identifying an unrecorded area in the first data area.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may further obtainidentification information including information for identifying anarea, following the area identified by the start recorded areainformation, to which user data is recorded.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, when user data is recorded in the area identified bythe end recorded area information, the process apparatus may recorddummy data, via the recording part, to an unrecorded area situatedbetween an end position of the area identified by the start recordedarea information and a start position of the area identified by the endrecorded area information.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the information recording apparatus may furtherinclude a formatting part for formatting the information recordingmedium, wherein the first and second data areas of the first and secondrecording layers are divided into a plurality of zones, wherein dummydata is recorded to the plural zones via the recording part and theinformation recording medium is formatted when there is no request foraccessing the information recording medium.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the formatting part may obtain reference recordedarea information including information for identifying an area to whichdata is continuously recorded from a reference position, wherein thereference position is a start position of one of the plural zones,wherein the one of the zones includes an end position of an unrecordedarea situated adjacent to an area identified by the end recorded areainformation.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the start position of each zone may be set as areference position, wherein area information is set in correspondencewith the zones for identifying the area to which data is continuouslyrecorded from the reference position, wherein the formatting partobtains the area information of one of zones as reference recorded areainformation, wherein the one of the zones includes an end position of anunrecorded area situated adjacent to an area identified by the endrecorded area information.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, in a case of where the formatting part records dummydata to the one of the zones in the second data area, the dummy data maybe recorded to an unrecorded area situated between an end position of anarea identified by the reference recorded area information and a startposition of an area identified by the end recorded area information.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the process apparatus may further record thereference recorded area information to the information recording mediumvia the recording part.

In the information recording apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the first direction of the first data area may be adirection oriented from an inner periphery of the information recordingmedium to an outer periphery of the information recording medium,wherein the second direction of the second data area is a directionoriented from the outer periphery of the information recording medium tothe inner periphery of the information recording medium, wherein amongthe zone including the start position of the unrecorded area adjacent tothe area identified by the start recorded area information and the zoneincluding the end position of the unrecorded area adjacent to the areaidentified by the end recorded area information, the formatting partrecords dummy data from the zones situated toward the inner periphery ofthe information recording medium in a case where the end position of thearea identified by the start recorded area information belongs to thefirst data area.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a program causing a computerof an information recording apparatus to record information to adisk-shaped rewritable information recording medium having at least afirst recording layer provided with a first data area having a pluralityof addresses allocated thereto and a second recording layer providedwith a second data area having a plurality of addresses allocatedthereto, the plural addresses of the first data area continuouslyincreasing in a first direction, the plural addresses of the second dataarea continuously increasing in a second direction opposite to the firstdirection, the program including: a recording procedure for recordingend recorded area information to the information recording medium, theend recorded area information including information for identifying anarea in the second data area having data that corresponds to an endposition of the second data area.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer readable mediumincluding a program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical diskapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing for describing a layout of an information area of acommercially available single layer DVD;

FIG. 3 is a drawing for describing a layout of an information area of acommercially available PTP type dual layer DVD;

FIG. 4 is a drawing for describing a layout of an information area of acommercially available OTP type dual layer DVD;

FIG. 5 is a drawing for describing a layout of an information area of acommercially available DVD+RW disk;

FIGS. 6A-6C are drawings (Part 1) for describing a BGF process of aDVD+RW disk, respectively;

FIGS. 7A-7B are drawings (Part 2) for describing a BGF process of aDVD+RW disk, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a table for describing management information of a DVD+RWdisk;

FIG. 9 is a drawing for describing a recording layer of an optical disk15 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a drawing for describing a layout of an information area ofthe optical disk 15 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is drawing for describing a zone of a data area of the opticaldisk 15 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a table for describing management information that isrecorded to a management information area shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for describing a BGF process of an optical diskapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 14A-14C are drawings (Part 1) for describing a BGF process of theoptical disk apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively;

FIGS. 15A-15C are drawings (Part 2) for describing a BGF process of theoptical disk apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for describing a process in a case whererecording of user data is requested in the middle of a BGF process shownin FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for describing a process in a case where diskejection is requested in the middle of the BGF process shown in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 18A-18C are drawings (Part 1) for describing a process in a casewhere disk ejection is requested in the middle of the BGF process shownin FIG. 13; respectively;

FIGS. 19A-19B are drawings (Part 2) for describing a process in a casewhere disk ejection is requested in the middle of the BGF process shownin FIG. 13; respectively;

FIGS. 20A-20B are drawings for logical addresses, respectively;

FIG. 21 shows a table for describing another example (example 1) ofmanagement information that is recorded to a management informationarea;

FIG. 22 shows a table for describing another example (example 2) ofmanagement information that is recorded to a management informationarea;

FIG. 23 shows a table for describing another example (example 3) ofmanagement information that is recorded to a management informationarea;

FIG. 24 shows a table for describing another example (example 4) ofmanagement information that is recorded to a management informationarea;

FIGS. 25A-25C are drawings of a modified example (modified example 1) ofa BGF process of the optical disk apparatus shown in FIG. 1,respectively;

FIGS. 26A-26B show tables for describing management information of themodified example of the BGF process shown FIGS. 25A-25C;

FIGS. 27A-27C are drawings of a modified example (modified example 2) ofa BGF process of the optical disk apparatus shown in FIG. 1,respectively; and

FIGS. 28A-28C are drawings for describing a case where user data isrecorded after LUA during disk ejection in the middle of a BGF process,respectively.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in detail based on the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings.

FIGS. 1-20 are drawings for describing an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configurationof an optical disk apparatus (information recording apparatus) 20according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The optical disk apparatus 20 includes, for example, a spindle motor 22for driving the rotation for an optical disk 15 serving as aninformation recording medium having multiple recording layers accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, an optical pickup apparatus23, a seek motor 21 for driving the optical pickup apparatus 23 in asledge direction, a laser drive circuit 24, an encoder 25, a drivecontrol circuit 26, a reproduction signal process circuit 28, a bufferRAM 34, a buffer manager 37, an interface 38, a flash memory 39, a CPU40, and a RAM 41. It is to be noted that the arrows shown in FIG. 1merely illustrate the flow of representative signals and information anddo not illustrate the entire connecting relation among each of theblocks.

The optical pickup apparatus 23 is an apparatus for condensing a laserbeam on a target recording layer in the multiple recording layers of theoptical disk 15 (a recording layer among the multiple recording layersof the optical disk 15 to which access is made, hereinafter referred toas “target recording layer”) and for receiving light reflected from thetarget recording layer. Although not shown in the drawings, the opticalpickup apparatus 23 includes, for example, an optic system including asemiconductor laser and an objective lens for guiding the light beamirradiated from the semiconductor laser to the target recording layer ofthe optical disk 15 and also guiding the light beam reflected from thetarget recording layer to a predetermined photo-detection area, aphotodetector for receiving the reflected light beam, and a drivingsystem (focusing actuator and tracking actuator). The photodetectorincludes multiple photo-detection elements (or photo-detection areas)which output signals to the reproduction signal process circuit 28 incorrespondence with the amount of received light.

Based on the signals output from the photo-detection elements, thereproduction signal process circuit 28 obtains, for example, servosignals (focus error signals, tracking error signals, etc.), addressinformation, synchronizing signals, and RF signals. The reproductionsignal process circuit 28 outputs the obtained servo signals to thedrive control circuit 26, the obtained address information to the CPU40, the obtained synchronizing signals to the encoder and the drivecontrol circuit 26, for example. Furthermore, the reproduction signalprocess circuit 28 performs, for example, a decoding process and anerror detection process on the RF signals, and stores the processed RFsignals (after an error correction process is performed in a case wherean error is detected) as reproduction data in the buffer RAM 34 via thebuffer manager 37.

Based on the tracking error signals obtained from the reproductionsignal process circuit 28, the drive control circuit 26 generates drivesignals for the tracking actuator in order to correct the deviation inthe position of the objective lens with respect to the trackingdirection. Furthermore, based on the focus error signals obtained fromthe reproduction signal process circuit 28, the drive control circuit 26generates drive signals for the focusing actuator in order to correctthe deviation of focus of the objective lens. The generated drivesignals for both the tracking actuator and the focusing actuator areoutput to the optical pickup apparatus 23. Based on the generated drivesignals, the optical pickup apparatus 23 performs tracking control andfocus control. Furthermore, based on the commands from the CPU 40, thedrive control circuit 26 also generates drive signals for driving theseek motor 21 and drive signals for driving the spindle motor 22. Thegenerated drive signals for the seek motor 21 is output to the seekmotor 21 and the generated drive signals for the spindle motor 22 isoutput to the spindle motor 22.

The buffer RAM temporarily stores, for example, data recorded in theoptical disk 15 (recording data) and data reproduced from the opticaldisk 15 (reproduction data). The input and output of the buffer RAM 34is managed by the buffer manager 37.

Based on the instructions of the CPU 40, the encoder 25 extractsrecording data stored in the buffer RAM 34 via the buffer manager 37,conducts, for example, modulation of data and application of errorcorrection codes, and generates write signals (signals for writing tothe optical disk 15). The generated write signals are output to thelaser control circuit 24.

The laser control circuit 24 controls the light emission power of thesemiconductor laser in the optical pickup apparatus 23. For example, ina recording operation, the laser control circuit 24 generates drivesignals for the semiconductor laser in accordance with, for example, thewrite signals, the recording conditions, and light emission propertiesof the semiconductor laser.

The interface 38 is a bidirectional communication interface forcommunicating with an upper apparatus 90 (for example, personalcomputer). The interface 38 complies to standard interfaces such asATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface), SCSI (Small Computer SystemInterface), and USB (Universal Serial Bus).

The flash memory 39 stores, for example, various programs (including aprogram according to an embodiment of the present invention which isdescribed in a code decodable for the CPU 40), recording conditions(including recording power, recording strategy information), and thelight emission property of the semiconductor laser.

The CPU 40 controls the operation of the above-described components andparts in accordance with the program(s) stored in the flash memory 39and stores data (e.g. data required for executing the control) in theRAM 41 and buffer RAM 34.

Next, a DVD-ROM is described as an example of a commercially availableread only memory information recording medium. The DVD-ROM includes asingle layer disk (also referred to as a “single layer DVD”) having asingle recording layer and a dual layer disk (also referred to as a“dual layer DVD”) having two recording layers (also referred to as“Layer 0” and “Layer 1”). Furthermore, the dual layer DVD can becategorized according to track path (a path scanned in reproduction), inwhich there is a parallel track path (hereafter referred to as “PTP”)type and an opposite track path (hereinafter referred to as “OTP”) type.

FIG. 2 shows a single layer DVD having an information area, in which theinformation area includes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-outarea arranged in this order from the inner periphery of the disk to theouter periphery of the disk. Furthermore, physical addresses (PBA,Physical Block Address), which continuously (sequentially) increase, areallocated from the lead-in area to the lead-out area (i.e. innerperiphery of the disk to the outer periphery of the disk) of therecording layer of the single layer DVD. Furthermore, the track path isoriented in a direction heading from the lead-in area to the lead-outarea.

FIG. 3 shows a PTP type dual layer DVD having an information areacorresponding to each recording layer, in which the information area ofeach recording layer includes a lead-in area, a data area, and alead-out area arranged in this order from the inner periphery of thedisk to the outer periphery of the disk. That is, in the PTP type duallayer DVD having an information area in each recording layer, onerecording layer is independent from the other recording layer.Furthermore, physical addresses, which continuously (sequentially)increase, are allocated from the lead-in area to the lead-out area (i.e.inner periphery of the disk to the outer periphery of the disk) of eachrecording layer of the dual layer DVD. Furthermore, the track path ineach recording layer is oriented in a direction from the lead-in area tothe lead-out area.

As shown in FIG. 3, the start position and the end position of thelead-in area of each recording layer, the start position of the dataarea of each recording layer, and the end position of the lead-out areaof each recording layer are situated in the same radial position,respectively. On the other hand, the start position of the lead-out areaof each recording layer (i.e. the end position of each recording layer)is different. In a case where the end position of the data area of eachrecording layer is different, lead-out information is recorded in thearea of the difference (differential area). It is to be noted that theradial position according to an embodiment of the present invention isbased on the rotation center of the disk. Furthermore, it is to be notedthat “start position” refers to a position at which a least physicaladdress of an area or a least logical address of an area is allocated,and “end position” refers to a position at which a greatest physicaladdress of an area or a greatest logical address of an area isallocated.

FIG. 4 shows an OTP type dual layer DVD having a single informationarea, in which the information area in Layer 0 includes a lead-in area,a data area, and an intermediate area arranged in this order from theinner periphery of the disk to the outer periphery of the disk, and theinformation area in Layer 1 includes an intermediate area, a data area,a lead-out area arranged in this order from the outer periphery of thedisk to the inner periphery of the disk. That is, the OTP type duallayer DVD has a single information area in which the recording layersare provided in continuation to form a single information area.Furthermore, physical addresses, which continuously increase, areallocated from the lead-in area to the intermediate area in Layer 0, andphysical addresses, which are provided with inversed bits with respectto the physical addresses of Layer 0, are allocated from theintermediate area to the lead-out area in Layer 1. That is, physicaladdresses, which continuously increase, are allocated from theintermediate area to the lead-out area.

The track path of the OTP type dual DVD runs in a direction from thelead-in area of Layer 0 to the intermediate area, transfers to Layer 1after reaching the intermediate area of the Layer 0, and continues torun in a direction from the intermediate area of Layer 1 to the lead-outarea of Layer 1. In this case, Layer 0 and Layer 1 are handled as asingle consecutive layer.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the start position of the lead-in areain Layer 0 and the end position of the lead-out area in Layer 1, the endposition of the data area in Layer 0 and the start position of the dataarea in Layer 1, and the start position and the end position of theintermediate layer of each recording layer are situated in the sameradial position, respectively. On the other hand, the start position ofthe data area in Layer 0 and the end position of the data area in Layer1 do not necessarily match. In this case, similar to the PTP type duallayer DVD, lead-out information is recorded in the area of thedifference (differential area).

Next, a background format (hereinafter referred to as “BGF”) process isdescribed with reference to FIGS. 5-7B. A DVD+RW is used as an exampleof the information recording medium subject to the BGF process.

The DVD+RW has a recording layer which is basically the same layout asthat of the single layer DVD-ROM. That is, the recording layer of theDVD+RW has an information area, in which the information recording areaincludes a lead-in area, a data area, a lead-out area arranged in thisorder from the inner periphery of the disk to the outer periphery of thedisk. Furthermore, user data is recorded in the data area. As shown inFIG. 5, the lead-in area includes a management information area to whichmanagement information is recorded as characteristic informationpeculiar to the DVD+RW. The management information is used for managing,for example, the BGF process and the area recorded during the BGFprocess.

As shown in FIG. 8, the management information of the DVD+RW includes,for example, “identification ID”, “restriction information for unknownidentification ID”, “drive ID”, “update count”, “format status”, “lastwritten address (LWA)”, “last verified address (LVA)”, “bitmap startaddress”, “bitmap length”, “disk ID”, and “bitmap”.

The “identification ID” includes identification ID of the managementinformation. The “restriction information for unknown identification ID”includes information regarding drive apparatus operations which are tobe restricted in a case where the identification ID is unknown. Therestriction information includes, for example, “restriction of recordingto the data area”, and “restriction of formatting”. The “drive ID”includes ID information for identifying the drive apparatus to which themanagement information is recorded. The “update count” includes thenumber of times that the management information was updated. The “formatstatus” includes information regarding the state of the BGF process. Thestate of the BGF process includes, for example, “state before theformatting process”, “state in the middle of (during) the formattingprocess”, and “state after completion of the formatting process”. The“last written address (LWA)” includes an end address of a data area atwhich data is continuously recorded from a start address of the dataarea. In a case where the BGF process is restarted, dummy data isrecorded from the address following the address of the LWA. The “lastverified address (LVA)” includes an end address of a data area at whichdata is continuously verified from a start address of the data area. Inan area at which verification is not conducted, “00000000h” is recordedto this area. The “bit map start address” includes the address in thedata area which corresponds to the first bit of the bitmap information.The “bitmap length” includes the size of the data area in which therecorded/unrecorded state is managed with bitmap information. The“bitmap” includes bitmap information.

In the BGF process where a user requests a formatting process,completion of the formatting process is reported to the user once aportion of a lead-in is recorded (i.e. after an initial process). Thatis, for the user, the formatting process will appear to be completedonce the initial process is completed. Accordingly, once the initialprocess is completed, the user can record and/or reproduce data withrespect to the entire data area. This enables user data to be recordedat a short time even when using a blank disk and thus improves usabilityfor the user. It is to be noted that an end address of the lead-in areais set as the initial value of the LWA when the initial process iscompleted, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6A. Furthermore, since the areaof the data area is unrecorded, all the bit values in the bitmapinformation are set with a value of “1”, that is, information indicating“unrecorded” is set in the bitmap information.

Then, by using a period where neither recording nor reproduction isrequested by the user, dummy data is recorded in the unrecorded area ofthe data area from the inner periphery of the disk to the outerperiphery of the disk, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6B. In a BGF processfor a DVD+RW, the process of recording dummy data is referred to as a“de-ice process”. Since the de-ice process is executed continuously fromthe start position of the data area, the LWA is updated upon executionof the de-ice process. Furthermore, the bit values in the bitmapinformation corresponding to the area in which dummy data is recordedare set to 0, that is, the bitmap information is changed to informationindicating “recorded” (See FIG. 6B).

In a case where the user requests recording of user data during the BGFprocess, the de-ice process is stopped (interrupted) and the recordingof the user data is executed. Here, user data may be recorded in anunrecorded area(s), which is not yet subject to the de-ice process,owing that user data can be recorded in any area of the data area, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 6C. Then, as user data is recorded in the dataarea, the bit values in the bitmap information corresponding the areawhere the user data is recorded are changed to “0” (See FIG. 6C).

After the recording of user data is completed, the interrupted de-iceprocess is restarted. Upon restarting the de-ice process, reference ismade to the LWA as the address for restarting the de-ice process. Thus,the unrecorded area of the data area is identified by referring to thebitmap information. Accordingly, dummy data is recorded to theunrecorded area following the LWA when the de-ice process is restarted,as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7A. Then, the LWA and the bitmapinformation are updated along with the recording of the dummy data.Therefore, with the updated bitmap information, the user data arrangedbehind the LWA can be prevented from being overwritten by dummy datawhen the de-ice process is restarted.

Furthermore, with a DVD+RW, the BGF process may be interrupted forejecting the disk. In this case, although it is possible for the disk tobe ejected where the data area of the disk includes a coexisting stateof recorded areas and unrecorded areas, logical compatibility with theDVD-ROM cannot be ensured. This is due to the property of the DVD-ROM inwhich the information area including the lead-in area, the data area,and the lead-out area requires data to be recorded in the entireinformation area.

However, the DVD+RW can attain logical compatibility with the DVD-ROM byexecuting the following procedures.

First, dummy data is recorded in the unrecorded areas, which areintermittently arranged in the data area, by referring to the bitmapinformation. As a result, the LWA is updated as the end address of therecorded area situated at the outermost periphery of the disk. Then, atemporary lead-out (hereinafter referred to as “TLO”) is recorded in thearea arranged behind the LWA. Accordingly, an information area includinga lead-in area, a data area (terminating at the LWA), and a (temporary)lead-out area is provided even in the middle of a formatting process(i.e. even when the formatting process is not completed); therebyenabling reproduction with a read only memory DVD drive apparatus(conventional drive apparatus). Generally, the data recorded to the dataarea has a different property (characteristic) compared to that of thedata recorded to the lead-out area. In the DVD-RW, data indicative ofthe characteristic of the lead-out area is recorded as the TLO. It is tobe noted that, since the bit values in the bitmap informationcorresponding to the TLO area remain unchanged with values of “1”, thede-ice process can be restarted from the address following the LWA whenthe disk is reinserted in the drive apparatus. Then, TLO is overwrittenwith dummy data.

Next, the bitmap information is described in further detail. Asdescribed above, the BGF process allows user data to be recorded to anyarea in the data area when the initial process is completed. That is,user data can be recorded even to an area to which dummy data is not yetrecorded in the de-ice process. Therefore, in a case where user data isrecorded during the BGF process, unrecorded areas and recorded areaswill coexist in the data area. In restarting the de-ice process in suchstate where the unrecorded areas and recorded areas coexist in the dataarea, it is necessary for dummy data to be recorded to an area in thedata area where no user data is recorded. In order to fulfill thisnecessity, bitmap information is used. For example, in a case of aDVD+RW, the data area is virtually divided into areas of 1 ECC blocks(16 sectors, hereinafter referred to as “block areas”) which serves aunit for recording, and a single block area is set to correspond to asingle bit in the bitmap information. That is, a flag of 1 bit serves todistinguish whether the block area is in a recorded state and anunrecorded state. It is to be noted that FIGS. 6A-7B are, for the sakeof convenience, illustrated so that 1 bit corresponds to multiple blockareas. Thus, when user data is recorded to a block area in the dataarea, the bit value of the bitmap information corresponding to the blockarea where the user data is recorded is changed to a value of “0”. Then,when the de-ice process is restarted, dummy data is recorded only to theunrecorded areas in the data area by referring to the bitmapinformation. Accordingly, user data recorded during the BGF process isprevented from being overwritten on dummy data.

Next, the optical disk 15 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is described. The optical disk 15 has the physical propertiesof a DVD type rewritable information recording medium. As shown in FIG.9, the optical disk 15 includes a substrate L0, a recording layer M0(first recording layer), an intermediate layer (M1), a recording layerM1 (second recording layer), a substrate L1 arranged in this order fromthe side where the light beam is incident. Furthermore, a translucentfilm MB0 formed of, for example, metal or a dielectric material issituated between the recording layer M0 and the intermediate layer ML. Areflection film MB1 formed of, for example, aluminum is situated betweenthe recording layer M1 and the substrate L1. The intermediate layer MLuses an ultraviolet curing type resin material having high transmittancywith respect to the irradiated light beam and having a refractive indexclose to the refractive index of the substrate. It is to be noted thatspiral or concentric tracks are formed in each recording layer. That is,the optical disk 15 is a single-sided dual layer rewritable disk.

FIG. 10 shows a layout of an information area of the optical disk 15which is the same as that of the OTP type optical disk. That is, therecording layer (first recording layer) M0 is provided with a lead-inarea, a data area (first data area), and an intermediate area which arearranged in this order from the inner periphery of the optical disk 15to the outer periphery of the optical disk 15. Furthermore, therecording layer (second recording layer) M1 is provided with anintermediate area, a data area (second data area), and a lead-out areawhich are arranged in this order from the outer periphery of the opticaldisk 15 to the inner periphery of the optical disk 15. Furthermore,physical addresses, which continuously increase, are allocated from theinner periphery of the disk to the outer periphery of the disk in therecording layer M1, and physical addresses, which continuously increase,are allocated from the outer periphery of the disk to the innerperiphery of the disk in the recording layer M0. The term “preceding”hereinafter refers to the side toward the inner periphery of the disk inthe recording layer M0, but refers to the side toward the outerperiphery of the disk in the recording layer M1. Furthermore, the term“following” hereinafter refers to the side toward the outer periphery ofthe disk in the recording layer M0, but refers to the side toward theinner periphery of the disk in the recording layer M1.

Furthermore, the track path is scanned from the lead-in area of therecording layer M0 to the data area of the recording layer M0, andfurther towards the intermediate area of the recording layer M0. Then,after the intermediate area of the recording layer M0 is reached, thetrack path transfers to the recording layer M1. Then, the track path isscanned from the intermediate area of the recording layer M1 to the dataarea of the recording layer M1, and further towards the lead-out area ofthe recording layer M1. Here, the logical addresses continue from thestart position of the data area of the recording layer M0 to the endposition of the data area of the recording layer M1, so that therecording layers M0 and M1 are treated as a single recording layer.Therefore, according to this embodiment of the present invention, thedata area of the recording layer M1 and the data area of the recordinglayer M0 are treated as a single continuous data area (combined dataarea, hereinafter referred to as “virtual data area” for the sake ofconvenience).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each recordinglayer is virtually divided into four zones (partial areas) starting fromzone [N:0] to zone [N:3] (N indicates the number of the layer, N=0,1),as shown in FIG. 11. In this example, the recording layer M0 is denotedas layer number 0 and the recording layer M1 is denoted as layer number1. Accordingly, the data area of the recording layer M0 is divided intozone [0:0], zone [0:1], zone [0:2] and zone [0:3], and the data area ofthe recording layer M1 is divided into zone [1:0], zone [1:1], zone[1:2], and zone [1:3]. In terms of the distance from the rotation centerof the optical disk 15 (i.e. radial position), the end position of zone[0:0] and the start position of zone [1:0] are situated at the sameposition, the end position of zone [0:1] and the start position of zone[1:1] are situated at the same position, the end position of zone [0:2]and the start position of zone [1:2] are situated at the same position,and the end position of zone [0:3] and the start position of zone [1:3]are situated at the same position.

Furthermore, the optical disk 15 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is formatted by performing the above-described BGFprocess on the optical disk 15. Then, the de-ice process is alternatelyperformed on the zones of the recording layer M0 and the recording layerM1 from the inner periphery of the optical disk 15. In other words, thede-ice process is conducted in an order of zone [0:0]→zone [1:0]→zone[0:1]→zone [1:1]→zone [0:2]→ . . . →zone [1:3].

Furthermore, the lead-in area includes a management information area(information area) which stores management information for managing, forexample, the BGF process and the areas recorded during the BGF process.As shown in FIG. 12, the management information in the optical disk 15has a data structure including, for example, “identification ID”,“restriction information for unknown identification ID”, “drive ID”,“update count”, “format status”, “last written address (LWA)” serving asstart recorded area information, “last verified address (LVA)”, “bitmapstart address”, “bitmap length”, “disk ID”, “last unwritten address(LUA)” serving as end recorded area information, “zone last writtenaddress” serving as reference recorded area information, and “bitmap”serving as identification information. Accordingly, the managementinformation has a data structure including a data part for storing theLWA, a data part for storing the LUA, and a data part for storing thezone LWA. It is to be noted that the positions of the “last writtenaddress (LWA)”, the “last unwritten address (LUA)”, the “zone lastwritten address (zone LWA)” and the “bitmap” are not to be limited tothe aforesaid positions.

The “identification ID”, the “restriction information for unknownidentification ID”, the “drive ID”, the “update count”, and the “formatstatus” include the same information as the corresponding managementinformation of the above-described DVD+RW.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the “last writtenaddress (LWA)” (i.e. start recorded area information) serves asinformation for identifying the area where data is continuously(consecutively) recorded from the start position of the virtual dataarea, in which the end address of the continuously recorded data isstored therein. Accordingly, when data is entirely recorded to the dataarea of the recording layer M0 and data is further recorded to therecording layer M1, the LWA is updated to the address in the data areaof the recording layer M1.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the “last verifiedaddress (LVA)” includes the end address of the area where data iscontinuously verified from the start position of the virtual data area.Accordingly, when the entire area of the data area of the recordinglayer M0 is verified and the data is further verified with respect tothe data area of the recording layer M1, the LVA is updated to theaddress in the data area of the recording layer M1. It is to be notedthat, in an area at which verification is not conducted, “00000000h” isrecorded to this area.

The “bitmap start address” according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes the address in the virtual data area corresponding tothe first bit in the bitmap information.

The “bitmap length” according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes the size of the area in which recorded/unrecorded informationin the virtual data area is managed according to bitmap information.

The “last unwritten address (LUA)” (i.e. end recorded area information)serves as information for identifying an area in the second data areahaving data that corresponds to an end position of the second data area.The LUA includes an end address of an area situated at an innermost partof the disk among unrecorded areas in data area of the recording layerM1.

The “zone last written address (zone LWA) (i.e. reference recorded areainformation) serves as information for identifying the area where datais continuously recorded from a predetermined reference position in thedata area of the recording layer M1. The zone LWA includes the endaddress of the area to which data is continuously recorded from a startposition (reference position) of a target monitor zone (zone in the dataarea of the recording layer M1 that is subject to monitoring). It is tobe noted that if no information is continuously recorded from the startposition of the target monitor zone, a start position of a targetmonitor zone is set to the zone LWA.

The “bitmap” according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes bitmap information for determining (distinguishing) whether thedata area of the recording layer M0 is an area having data recordedthereto and also determining (distinguishing) whether the data area ofthe recording layer M1 is an area having user data recorded thereto (SeeFIG. 14). In this example, the virtual data area is virtually dividedinto block areas in which each block area is an area of 1 ECC block (16sectors). A single bit in the bitmap information corresponds to a singleblock area. It is to be noted that, FIGS. 14A-15C and FIGS. 18A-19B are,for the sake of convenience, illustrated so that 1 bit corresponds tomultiple block areas. FIGS. 25A-25C and FIGS. 27A-28C are illustratedlikewise.

[BGF Process]

Next, a process, which is executed when the above-described optical diskapparatus 20 receives a command requesting a formatting process from theupper apparatus 90, is described with reference to FIGS. 13, 16, and 17.The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 13, 16, and 17 correspond to a series ofprocess algorithms executed by the CPU 40, respectively. In thisexample, the optical disk 15 may be a blank disk. Furthermore, at leastone of the LWA, the LUA, and the zone LWA of the optical disk 15 mayalready have data recorded thereto. For example, in a case where atleast one of the LWA, the LUA, and the zone LWA of the optical disk 15already has data recorded thereto, at least one of the LWA, the LUA, andthe zone LWA of the optical disk 15 is read out and stored in the RAM 41when the optical disk 15 is set to the optical disk apparatus 20.

It is to be noted that, the optical disk apparatus 20 according to anembodiment of the present invention communicates with the upperapparatus 90 (both transmission and reception) in accordance with aninterruption process. When the optical disk apparatus 20 receives acommand requesting recording of data from the upper apparatus, theprocess of the optical disk apparatus 20 is interrupted to set a valueof “1” to a recording request flag. When the optical disk apparatus 20receives a command requesting ejection of the disk 15, the process ofthe optical disk apparatus 20 is interrupted to set a value of “1” to anejection request flag. In this example, no reproduction of data is torequested by the upper apparatus 90 during the BGF process.

When the optical disk apparatus 20 receives a command requesting aformatting process, a start address of a program corresponding to theflowchart shown in FIG. 13 is set to a program counter of the CPU 40, tothereby start the BGF process. The recording request flag and theejection request flag are set to a value of “0”, respectively. It is tobe noted that data is written (recorded) to the optical disk 15 via, forexample, the encoder 25, the laser control circuit 24, and the opticalpickup apparatus 23.

In Step 401, it is determined whether the optical disk 15 is a blankdisk. If the optical disk 15 is a blank disk, an affirmative decisionoutput. Then, the process proceeds to Step 403.

In Step 403, management information is initialized. That is, an areahaving a data structure which is the same as that of the managementinformation of the optical disk 15 is obtained for the RAM 41 and apredetermined initial value is set. In this example, the end address ofthe lead-in area is set as the initial value in the LWA, and the endaddress of the data area of the recording layer M1 is set as the initialvalue in the LUA, as shown in FIG. 14A. Furthermore, the first targetmonitor zone of the recording layer M1 is zone [1:0], and the startaddress of zone [1:0] is set as the initial value in zone LWA.Furthermore, the initial value for all of the bits in the bitmapinformation is set with a value of “1”.

Next, in Step 405, predetermined information is recorded to a portion ofthe lead-in area including the management information area of theoptical disk 15.

Next, in Step 407, completion of the formatting process is reported tothe upper apparatus 90. At this point, a portion of the lead-in area isin a recorded state, as shown in FIG. 14A.

Next, in Step 409, it is determined whether recording is requested bythe upper apparatus 90 by referring to the recording request flag. Ifthe recording request flag is “0”, the recording request is determinedas negative, and the process proceeds to Step 411.

In Step 411, it is determined whether ejection of the optical disk 15 isrequested by the upper apparatus 90 by referring to the ejection requestflag. If the ejection request flag is “0”, the ejection request isdetermined as negative, and the process proceeds to Step 413.

In Step 413, it is determined whether the optical disk apparatus 20 isin the middle of performing a de-ice process. If the optical diskapparatus 20 is not in the middle of performing the de-ice process, thede-ice process is determined as negative, and the process proceeds toStep 415.

In Step 415, it is determined whether a de-iced zone is zone B. If thede-iced zone is not zone B, the de-iced zone is determined as negative,and the process proceeds to Step 417.

In Step 417, the LWA is updated. It is to be noted that, in a case whereno de-ice is conducted (e.g. immediately after the initial process), theprocess in this step is skipped.

In Step 419, the bitmap information is updated. It is to be noted that,in a case where no de-ice is conducted (e.g. immediately after theinitial process), the process in this step is skipped.

In Step 425, it is determined whether a zone including an unrecordedarea exists in the virtual data area. If there is a zone including anunrecorded area in the virtual data area, the existence of the zone isdetermined as affirmative, and the process proceeds to Step 427.

In Step 427, the LWA stored in the RAM 41 is obtained.

In Step 429, a zone including an unrecorded area following the addressindicated by the LWA is identified (in this example, zone A). In a caseimmediately after the initial process, zone [0:0] is identified as zoneA.

Next, in Step 431, the zone LWA stored in the RAM 41 is obtained.

Next, in Step 433, a zone including an unrecorded area following theaddress indicated by the zone LWA is identified (in this example, zoneB). In a case immediately after the initial process, zone [1:0] isidentified as zone B. It is to be noted that, although zone A may beeither a zone in the recording layer M0 or a zone in the recording layerM1, zone B is a zone only in the recording layer M1 since the zone LWAis set for a zone in the recording layer M1.

Next, in Step 435, it is determined whether zone B is situated moretoward the inner periphery compared to zone A. In a case immediatelyafter the initial process, the radial position of zone B is the same asthat of zone A. Therefore, the position of zone B is determined asnegative, and the process proceeds to Step 437.

In Step 437, the area for performing the de-ice process is set to zoneA.

Next, in Step 439, a de-ice process is commenced from the addressfollowing the address indicated by the LWA. In the de-ice process, dummydata is recorded only to the unrecorded area(s) following the LWA. Thatis, dummny data is recorded by avoiding the area(s) where no user datais recorded. Then, the process returns to Step 409.

It is to be noted that, when the optical disk 15 is not a blank disk inStep 401, a negative determination is output, and the process proceedsto Step 409. That is, the initial process is skipped. In this case,management information of the optical disk 15 is already stored in theRAM 41.

Furthermore, when the optical disk apparatus 20 is in the middle ofperforming a de-ice process in Step 413, an affirmative determination isoutput, and the process returns to Step 409. That is, the de-ice processis continued.

Furthermore, when the zone B is the de-iced zone in Step 415, anaffirmative determination is output, and the process proceeds to Step421. In Step 421, the zone LWA is updated. Next, in Step 423, the LUA isupdated, and the process proceeds to Step 425.

Furthermore, when zone B is situated more toward the inner periphery ofthe optical disk 15 compared to zone A in Step 435, an affirmativedetermination is output, and the process proceeds to Step 441. In Step443, a de-ice process is commenced from the address following theaddress indicated by zone LWA. Then, the process returns to Step 409.

Furthermore, when there is no zone including an unrecorded area in thevirtual data area in Step 425, the de-ice process in the virtual dataarea is complete. Thereby, an affirmative determination is output inStep 425, and the process proceeds to Step 445. In Step 445,predetermined information is recorded to the intermediate area of therecording layers M0 and M1, respectively.

Then, in Step 447, the lead-out area is recorded. It is to be notedthat, it is possible that the lead-out area is already recorded beforethe completion of the de-ice process, for example, in a case where thedisk is ejected in a mode compatible for a read only memory disk(described below). In this case, the process in Step 447 is skipped.Accordingly, information indicating whether the lead-out area isrecorded (e.g. format status) may be stored in the managementinformation beforehand, to thereby record data in the lead-out area in acase where no data is recorded in the lead-out area by referring to themanagement information.

Next, in Step 449, the remaining lead-in area is recorded. After Step449, the BGF process is completed.

[Recording Process in the Middle of Performing BGF Process]

In Step 409, in a case where the recording request flag is “1”, anaffirmative determination is output, and the process proceeds to Step501 (See FIG. 16) after the recording request flag is reset to “0”. Morespecifically, the start address of a program corresponding to theflowchart shown in FIG. 16 (hereinafter referred to as “recordingprocess program”) is set to the program counter of the CPU 40. In thisexample, it is supposed that the de-ice process is in the middle ofbeing performed in zone [1:0].

In Step 501, it is determined whether the de-ice process is in themiddle of being performed. If the de-ice process is in the middle ofbeing performed, an affirmative determination is output, and the processproceeds to Step 503.

In Step 503, the de-ice process is stopped (interrupted).

In Step 505, it is determined whether zone B is a zone which is in themiddle of being de-iced. In this case, the user requested recording inthe middle of performing the de-ice process on zone [1:0]. Therefore, anaffirmative determination is output, and the process proceeds to Step511.

In Step 511, the zone LWA is updated. As shown in FIG. 14B, the endaddress of the area of zone [1:0] where dummy data is recorded becomesthe new zone LWA.

Next, in Step 513, the LUA is updated. It is to be noted that, there isno change in the LUA since an unrecorded area exists in zone [1:0], asshown in FIG. 14B.

Next, in Step 515, user data is recorded. In this example, it issupposed that user data is continuously recorded from the middle of zone[0:0] to the middle of zone [0:1]. After the recording of user data iscompleted, the process proceeds to Step 517.

In Step 517, the LWA is updated. In this example, the end address of thearea of zone [0:1] to which the user data is recorded becomes the newLWA, as shown in FIG. 14C.

Next, in Step 519, the bitmap information is updated. As shown in FIG.14C, the bit values corresponding to the area of zone [0:1] to whichuser data is recorded is changed to “0”. After Step 519, the recordingprocess is completed, and the process returns to Step 409.

It is to be noted that, when zone B is not in the middle of beingsubject to the de-ice process in Step 505, a negative determination isoutput, and the process proceeds to Step 507.

In Step 507, the LWA is updated.

Next, in Step 509, the bitmap information is updated. After Step 509,the process proceeds to Step 515.

[Restart of De-Ice Process]

After the recording process is finished, the de-ice process isrestarted. In this example, since zone B (zone [1:0]) is situated moretoward the inner periphery compared to zone A (zone [0:1]), anaffirmative determination is output in Step 435. Then, in Step 441, thearea targeted for the de-ice process is set to zone B (in this example,zone [1:0]). Then, in Step 443, the de-ice process is restarted from theaddress following the address indicated in zone LWA.

After the de-ice process is completed for zone [1:0], an affirmativedetermination is output in Step 415. Then, in Step 421, the targetmonitor zone in the recording layer M1 becomes zone [1:1], and the startaddress of zone [1:1] becomes the new zone LWA (See FIG. 15A). Then, inStep 423, the end address of zone [1:1] becomes the new LUA since thereis no unrecorded area in zone [1:0]. That is, when dummy data isrecorded in the data area of the recording layer M1, the LUA is updatedin correspondence with the area to which the dummy data is recorded.Then, the unrecorded area of zone [0:1] becomes the next area targetedfor the de-ice process. It is to be noted that, even when the de-iceprocess is completed for zone [1:0], the bit values of the bitmapinformation corresponding to zone [1:0] are not changed, as shown inFIG. 15A. Accordingly, in the de-ice process of the recording layer M1,the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding to the area towhich dummy data is recorded does not change. In the recording layer M1,only the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding to the areato which user data is changed.

After the de-ice process for the unrecorded area in zone [0:1] iscompleted (See FIG. 15B), zone [1:1] becomes the next area targeted forthe de-ice process (See FIG. 15C). In the de-ice process for recordinglayer M1, the dummy data is recorded and the LWA are updated. Inaddition, the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding to thearea to which the dummy data are changed.

[Ejection Process in the Middle of the BGF Process]

Meanwhile, in Step 411, an affirmative determination is output if theejection request flag is “1”. Then, the process proceeds to Step 601shown in FIG. 17. More specifically, the start address of a programcorresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 (hereinafter referred toas “ejection process program”) is set to the program counter of the CPU40. It is to be noted that, in this example, the de-ice process is inthe middle of being performed in zone [1:1].

In Step 601, it is determined whether the de-ice process is in themiddle of being performed. If the de-ice process is in the middle ofbeing performed, an affirmative determination is output, and the processproceeds to Step 603.

In Step 603, the de-ice process is stopped (interrupted).

Next, in Step 605, it is determined whether zone B is a zone which is inthe middle of being de-iced. In this case, the user requested ejectingthe optical disk 15 in the middle of performing the de-ice process forzone [1:1]. Therefore, an affirmative determination is output, and theprocess proceeds to Step 611.

In Step 611, the zone LWA is updated. In this example, the targetmonitor zone of the recording layer M1 is zone [1:1], and the zone LWAis changed to the end address of the area of zone [1:1] to which dummydata is recorded, as shown in FIG. 18A.

Next, in Step 613, the LUA is updated. In this example, the LUA is notchanged since an unrecorded area exists in zone [1:1], as shown in FIG.18A.

In Step 615, it is determined whether the user requests ejection of thedisk in the mode compatible to a read only memory disk by referring tothe disk ejection request command. If disk ejection is requested in themode compatible for the read only memory disk, an affirmativedetermination is output, and the process proceeds to Step 617. Here, themode compatible to the read only memory disk refers to a mode havinglogical compatibility to a read only memory disk (in this example, asingle sided dual layer DVD-ROM).

In Step 617, an area having a largest end address among the areas towhich user data is recorded is obtained by referring to the bitmapinformation. That is, among the areas where the bit values of the bitmapinformation are “0”, the area having the largest end address isobtained. It is to be noted that, even when user data is recorded in ade-iced area in the recording layer M1 (area to which dummy data isrecorded), the area to which dummy data is recorded and the area towhich user data is recorded can be clearly distinguished by referring tothe bitmap information.

Next, in Step 619, it is determined whether user data is recorded in thearea behind the LWA based on the results obtained in Step 617. In thisexample, a negative determination is output since the area behind theLWA has no user data recorded thereto, and the process proceeds to Step627.

Next, in Step 627, a corresponding position in the data area of therecording layer M1 situated in the same radial position as that of theend position of the recorded data area (i.e. data area in the recordinglayer M0 to which user data or dummy data is recorded) is obtained byreferring to the zone LWA and the LUA. In this example, the startposition of zone [1:1] is the corresponding position.

Next, in Step 629, it is determined whether an unrecorded area exists inthe area following the corresponding position. In this example, anaffirmative determination is output since an unrecorded area exists inzone [1:1], as shown in FIG. 18A. Then, the process proceeds to Step631.

In Step 631, dummy data is recorded in the unrecorded area following thecorresponding position. In this example, dummy data is recorded to zone[1:1], as shown in FIG. 18B. Accordingly, the target monitor zone in therecording layer M1 becomes zone [1:2].

Next, in Step 633, zone LWA is updated. In this example, the targetmonitor zone in the recording layer M1 is zone [1:2], and the startaddress of zone [1:2] becomes the new zone LWA, as shown in FIG. 18C.

In Step 635, the LUA is updated. In this example, the end address ofzone [1:2] becomes the new LUA, as shown in FIG. 18C.

In Step 637, data is recorded to a temporary intermediate area betweenthe area following the LWA of the recording layer M0 and the areapreceding the LUA of the recording layer M1. The data recorded in thetemporary intermediate area has a property (characteristic) forindicating that the area is a temporary intermediate layer. It is to benoted that, the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding tothe temporary intermediate layer remain as “1”, as shown in FIG. 19A.This allows dummy data or user data to be overwritten on the temporaryintermediate layer when the BGF process is restarted.

Next, in Step 639, data is recorded to the lead-out area, as shown inFIG. 19B. Hence, an information area is formed having a lead-in area, adata area to which data of the recording layer M0 is recorded, a(temporary) intermediate area, a data area to which data of therecording layer M1 is recorded, and a lead-out area, to thereby attainlogical compatibility with an OTP type single sided dual layer DVD-ROM.It is to be noted that the process in Step 639 is skipped if thelead-out is already recorded.

Next, in Step 641, management information is recorded to the managementinformation area of the optical disk 15. That is, information, forexample, the LWA, the LUA, the zone LWA, and the bitmap information arerecorded to the optical disk 15. It is to be noted that, the managementinformation can be read out again and stored in the RAM 41 when theoptical disk 15 is reset (reinserted) to the optical disk apparatus 20,and used for performing, for example, the BGF process.

Next, in Step 643, the optical disk 15 is ejected via a disk ejectionmechanism (not shown), thereby the process is completed.

It is to be noted that when it is determined that the optical diskapparatus 20 is not in the middle of performing the BGF process in Step601, a negative determination is output, and the process proceeds toStep 615.

Furthermore, when it is determined that zone B is not in the middle ofbeing de-iced in Step 605, a negative determination is output, and theprocess proceeds to Step 607.

In Step 607, the LWA is updated.

In Step 609, the bitmap information is updated. Then, the processproceeds to Step 615.

In Step 615, when ejection of the disk is not requested in the modecompatible to the read only memory disk, a negative determination isoutput, and the process proceeds to Step 641.

Furthermore, in Step 619, when user data is recorded in an areafollowing the LWA in the recording layer M0, an affirmativedetermination is output, and the process proceeds to Step 621.

In Step 621, dummy data is recorded to the unrecorded area existingbetween the LWA and the area having the largest end address among thearea to which user data is recorded.

In Step 623, the LWA is updated.

In Step 625, the bitmap information is updated. Then, the processproceeds to Step 627.

Furthermore, in Step 629, when there is not unrecorded area followingthe corresponding position, a negative determination is output, and theprocess proceeds to Step 637.

[Logical Address]

Next, the logical address of the data area of each of the recordinglayers is described. The logical address is an address associated to theaddress of recorded data. Accordingly, the user requests a recordingprocess by designating the logical address. Furthermore, information ofthe recorded position of the user data (e.g. file) recorded in the dataarea (e.g. file information) is stored in a predetermined filemanagement area in the data area along with the corresponding logicaladdress.

FIG. 20A shows a relation between the layout of the information area ofthe optical disk 15 and its logical address (LBA) in a state where thede-ice process of the optical disk 15 is completed. The logical addressis deemed to be the physical address (PBA) of the start position of thevirtual data area. That is, the sector having a physical address“30000h” as the start position in the data area of the recording layerM0 is deemed as logical address “000000h”. Furthermore, the logicaladdress is allocated continuously from the start position in the dataarea of the recording layer M0 toward the outer periphery of the opticaldisk 15. As shown in FIG. 20A, in case where the physical address of thestart position in the intermediate area in the recording layer M0 isindicated as “M”, the logical address at the end position of the dataarea in the recording layer M0 becomes (M−1)−30000h. Further, thelogical address continues from the end position of the data area in therecording layer M0 to the start position of the data area in therecording layer M1. Accordingly, the logical address of the startposition of the data area in the recording layer M1 becomes M−30000h.Then, the logical address continuously increases from the start positionof the data area in the recording layer M1 toward the inner periphery ofthe optical disk 15. It is to be noted that, the logical address is setin an initial state in a likewise manner even in a case where the entiredisk is in an unrecorded state or in a case where data is not yetrecorded in the intermediate area in the middle of a BGF process. Inthis example, the physical address X′ indicates an address having aninversed bit value with respect to the physical address X.

Next, FIG. 20B shows a relation between the layout of the informationarea of the optical disk 15 and its logical address in a state where theoptical disk 15 is ejected after interrupting the BGF process. Thisexample shows a state of obtaining logical compatibility with a singlesided dual layer DVD-ROM by recording dummy data in the unrecorded areafollowing the corresponding position in the recording layer M1 andrecording data in the temporary intermediate area and the lead-out area.Same as the example shown in FIG. 20A, the start position of the dataarea in the recording layer M0 is deemed as logical address of“000000h”. The logical address increases continuously in the data areain the recording layer M0 toward the outer periphery of the optical disk15. In a case where the physical address of the start position in thetemporary intermediate area is N (<M), the logical address of the endposition of the data area in the recording layer M0 becomes(N−1)−30000h, and the logical address of the start position of the dataarea in the recording layer M1 becomes N−30000h. Then, the logicaladdress increases continuously from the start position of the data areain the recording layer M1 toward the inner periphery of the optical disk15.

With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, even if the radial position is thesame, the logical address of the recording layer M1 of FIG. 20A isdifferent from the logical address of the recording layer M0 of FIG.20B. For example, with respect to physical address X in the recordinglayer M0, the logical addresses corresponding to the radial position ofFIGS. 20A and 20B are both X-30000h. However, with respect to recordinglayer M1, the logical address corresponding to the radial position is(2M−X)−30000h in FIG. 20A, and the logical address corresponding to theradial position is (2N−X)−30000h in FIG. 20B. In other words, thelogical address of the recording layer M1 differs depending on the sizeof the data area in the recording layer M0 to which data is recorded.That is, the logical address of the recording layer M1 differs dependingon the position of the intermediate area.

Hence, in the optical disk apparatus 20 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, a recording part according to an embodiment ofthe present invention is configured having an optical pickup apparatus23, a laser control circuit 24, and an encoder 25 provided thereto.Furthermore, a process apparatus and a formatting part according to anembodiment of the present invention is configured having the CPU 40 anda program (executed by the CPU 40) provided thereto. That is, theprocess apparatus is realized by executing the steps 617-641 in FIG. 17,and the format part is realized by executing the steps 401-445 in FIG.13.

It is to be noted that, the aforementioned process apparatus and formatpart may have a configuration that is partly or entirely provided in theform of hardware.

The program according to an embodiment of the present invention includesthe ejection program among the programs recorded in the flash memory 39(recording medium). That is the program corresponding to the processshown in Step 641 of FIG. 17 includes an operation (function) ofrecording the last unwritten address (LUA).

Furthermore, the steps in the recording method according to anembodiment of the present invention including the steps of recording thelast unwritten address to the information recording medium, recordingthe last written address to the information recording medium, andrecording the zone last written address to the information recordingmedium are executed in the process shown in Step 641 of FIG. 17. Thesteps in the recording method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention including the step of recording data for providingcompatibility with a read only memory information recording medium isexecuted in the processes shown in Steps 617-641 of FIG. 17.

With the optical disk apparatus (information recording apparatus) 20according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a case where theuser requests ejection of the optical disk 15 in a DVD-ROM (read onlymemory information recording medium) compatible mode during a BGFprocess, dummy data is recorded in an unrecorded area of the opticaldisk 15, prior to ejecting the optical disk 15, by referring to the lastwritten address (LWA), the last unwritten address, and the zone lastwritten address. Here, the optical disk 15 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention has a recording layer M0 (first recording layer)including a data area (first data area) to which continuously increasingaddresses are allocated from the inner periphery of the optical disk 15to the outer periphery of the optical disk 15 and a recording layer M1(second recording layer) including a data area (second data area) towhich continuously increasing addresses are allocated from the outerperiphery of the optical disk 15 to the inner periphery of the opticaldisk 15. Accordingly, dummy data can be prevented from being recorded toan area where dummy data is already recorded. Thereby, a rewritableinformation recording medium having multiple layers can obtaincompatibility with a read only memory information recording medium in ashort time.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, whenuser data is recorded to the recording layer M0, the bit value of thebitmap information corresponding to the area recorded with the user datais changed from “1” to “0”. On the other hand, when dummy data isrecorded to the recording layer M1 in a de-ice process, the bit value ofthe bitmap information corresponding to the area recorded with the dummydata remains unchanged as “1” (i.e. remains in a state indicating anunrecorded state). Accordingly, by referring to the bitmap information,it can be easily determined whether user data is recorded in therecording layer M1. It is to be noted that, although it may be possibleto determine whether data is recorded in the recording layer M1 byperforming the de-ice process on the recording layer M1 and changing thebit value of the bitmap information corresponding to the area to whichdummy data is recorded, this method has a problem of being unable todetermine whether the data recorded in the recording layer M1 is userdata even by referring to the bitmap information.

Furthermore, in an ejection process during the BGF process, the lastwritten address (LWA), the last unwritten address (LUA), the zone lastwritten address (zone LWA), and the bitmap information are recorded to amanagement information area in the optical disk 15 according to anembodiment of the present invention. That is, management informationhaving a data structure including LWA, LUA, zone LWA, bitmap informationis recorded in the management information area of the optical disk 15.Accordingly, even in a case where an ejected optical disk 15 isreinserted (reset) in the optical disk apparatus 20, the BGF process canbe properly restarted. Furthermore, even in a case where user data isnewly recorded to the reinserted (reset) optical disk 15, the opticaldisk 15 can obtain compatibility with a read only memory informationrecording medium. As described above, the optical disk 15 is providedwith a management information area (information area) which includes alast unwritten address (LUA, information for identifying an areacorresponding to an area situated at the end position of the data areaof the recording layer M1 which has data recorded thereto). Theinformation recorded in the management information area has a datastructure including the LUA. Accordingly, an unrecorded area in the dataarea of the recording layer M1 (area in the data area of the recordinglayer M1 to which no data is recorded) can easily be detected byreferring (accessing) to the management information area of the opticaldisk 15. Therefore, even in case where an area including user data(contents), an area including dummy data, and an unrecorded area coexistin the optical disk 15, the optical disk 15 can obtain compatibilitywith a DVD-ROM (read only memory information recording medium) at ashort time.

Furthermore, as described above, the data area of each recording layerin the optical disk 15 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is virtually divided into multiple zones (partial areas). Inthe BGF process, the de-ice process is performed alternately on therecording layer M0 and the recording layer M1, starting from the zonesituated toward the inner periphery of the optical disk 15. This reducesthe recording amount of dummy data for providing logical compatibilitywith a DVD-ROM in a case where disk ejection is requested during a BGFprocess. That is, compatibility to a read only memory informationrecording medium can be provided in a short amount of time.

Although the LWA is set to one recording layer of the optical disk 15according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, aLWA may be set to each recording layer of the optical disk 15. In thiscase, the LWA of the recording layer M0 includes the end position of thearea to which data is continuously recorded from the start address ofthe first data area, the LWA of the recording layer M1 includes the endposition of the area to which data is continuously recorded from thestart address of the second data area. Accordingly, reference is made tothe LWA of the recording layer M0 in a case where the end position ofthe area to which data is continuously recorded from the start positionof the virtual data area is included in the first data area. On theother hand, reference is made to the LWA of the recording layer M1 in acase where the end position of the area to which data is continuouslyrecorded from the start position of the virtual data area is included inthe second data area. That is, the LWA corresponding to each recordinglayer are included in the LWA information.

Furthermore, management information may be provided to each recordinglayer. In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, the management information ofrecording layer N includes, for example, “identification ID”,“restriction information for unknown identification ID”, “drive ID”,“update count”, “format status”, “last written address (LWA) of layerN”, “last verified address (LVA) of layer N”, “bitmap start address oflayer N”, “bitmap length of layer N”, “disk ID”, “layer number”, “lastunwritten address (LUA)”, “zone last written address (zone LWA) of layerN”, and “bitmap of layer N”. In this example, information regarding“last written address (LWA)”, “last verified address (LVA)”, “bitmapstart address”, “bitmap length”, “last unwritten address (LUA)”, “zonelast written address (zone LWA)”, and “bitmap” are independently storedin correspondence with each layer. Here, the positions regarding the“last written address (LWA) of layer N”, the “last verified address(LVA) of layer N”, the “bitmap start address of layer N”, the “bitmaplength of layer N”, the “last unwritten address (LUA)”, the “zone lastwritten address (zone LWA) of layer N”, and the “bitmap of layer N” arenot to be limited in the manner described above.

In this case, for example, the end address of the lead-in area is storedin the LWA in the management information corresponding to layer numberN=0, and the end address of the intermediate area of the recording layerM1 is stored in the LWA in the management information corresponding tolayer number N=1, immediately after the completion of the initialprocess of the BGF process. Furthermore, a corresponding end address inthe recording layer M1 is stored in the LWA in the managementinformation for layer number N=1 when data is recorded in the data areaof the recording layer M1. In other words, the LWA for layer number N=1and the LWA for layer number N=0 are separately set in the managementinformation. Accordingly, the corresponding end addresses can beidentified by referring to the LWA of each recording layer. Furthermore,since “last unwritten address (LUA) of layer N” includes informationdedicated to each recording layer, the last unwritten address for layernumber N=1 and N=0 are both set with “00000000h” in the managementinformation, respectively.

Furthermore, information regarding the positions of the zones of thevirtually divided areas may also be stored in the managementinformation, as shown in FIG. 22. For example, “zone number m”, “startaddress of zone 1”, “end address of zone 1”, . . . , “start address ofzone m”, and “end address of zone m”. It is to be noted that, either oneof the start address or the end address may be provided as analternative of providing both the start address and the end address. Inthis case, either one of the start/end addresses of each zone in therecording layer M0 or the start/end addresses of each zone in therecording layer M1 can be used as the start address and the end addresssince the zones of the recording layers M0 and M1 are situated at theradial positions.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23, information regarding the positions ofthe zones of the virtually divided areas may also be added to themanagement information shown in FIG. 21. In this case, the start/endaddresses of the zones of the recording layer M0 are stored in themanagement information corresponding to the recording layer M0, and thestart/end addresses of the zones of the recording layer M1 are stored inthe management information corresponding to the recording layer M1.

Although the foregoing embodiment of the present invention is describedemploying a single zone LWA, a zone LWA may alternatively be set, forexample, to each zone in the recording layer M1. An example of a datastructure of the management information corresponding to this case isshown in FIG. 24. Here, the management information includes, forexample, “zone LWA of zone 1”, . . . , “zone LWA of zone m”.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention,regardless of whether the LWA belongs to the recording layer M0 or therecording layer M1, the de-ice process is, first, performed on the zonesituated more closer toward the inner periphery of the optical disk 15(either zone A or zone B). Nevertheless, since it is apparent that datais recorded in the entire data area of the recording layer M0 when theLWA belongs to the recording layer M1, data is to be recorded to theentire data area of the recording layer M1 in order to provide logicalcompatibility with the DVD-ROM. Therefore, when it is determined thatzone A belongs to the recording layer M1 in Step 429, the process mayimmediately proceed to Step 439.

Furthermore, the foregoing embodiment of the present invention describesthe LWA, the LUA, the zone LWA, and the bitmap information beingrecorded in the management information area of the optical disk 15 inthe ejection process during the BGF process. Alternatively, the LUAalone may be recorded in the management information area of the opticaldisk 15.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the bitmapinformation includes information for determining whether an unrecordedarea (area where no data is recorded) exists in the data area of therecording layer M0 and information for determining whether a recordedarea (area where user data is recorded) exists in the data area of therecording layer M1. Alternatively, bitmap information for determiningwhether an unrecorded area exists in the data area of the recordinglayer M0 and bitmap information for determining whether a recorded areaexists in the data area of the recording layer M1 may be providedseparately.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, physical addresseswhich continuously increase from the inner periphery of the optical disk15 to the outer periphery of the optical disk 15 are allocated in therecording layer M0 and physical addresses which continuously increasefrom the outer periphery of the optical disk 15 to the inner peripheryof the optical disk 15 are allocated in the recording layer M1.Alternatively, physical addresses which continuously increase from theouter periphery of the optical disk 15 to the inner periphery of theoptical disk 15 are allocated in the recording layer M0 and physicaladdresses which continuously increase from the inner periphery of theoptical disk 15 to the outer periphery of the optical disk 15 areallocated in the recording layer M1.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, theLWA is described as an address including the end address of the area towhich data is consecutively recorded from the start address of thevirtual data area. Alternatively, the LWA may include an addressfollowing the end address of the area to which data is consecutivelyrecorded from the start address of the virtual data area (although theBGF process may require partial changes). In other words, as long as thearea to which data is consecutively recorded from the start address ofthe virtual data area can be identified, the LWA may include analternative address.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the LUA isdescribed as an address including the end address of an area situatedclosest to the inner periphery of the optical disk 15 among theunrecorded areas in the data area of the recording layer M1.Alternatively, the LUA may include an address following the end addressof an area situated closest to the inner periphery of the optical disk15 among the unrecorded areas in the data area of the recording layer M1(although the BGF process may require partial changes). Furthermore, theLUA may include pointer information indicating the head address of thedata area of the recording layer M1 corresponding to the end address ofthe data area to which data is recorded. In other words, as long as thedata area of the recording layer M1 corresponding to the end address ofthe data area to which data is recorded can be identified, the LUA mayinclude an alternative address.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the start addressof the target monitor zone is set as the zone LWA when no data iscontinuously recorded from the start position of the target monitorzone. Alternatively, the end address of the zone preceding the targetmonitor zone may be set as the zone LWA. In other words, an alternativeaddress may be set as the zone LWA as long as it could be determinedthat no data is continuously recorded from the start position of thetarget monitor zone.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the program of thepresent invention is recorded to the flash memory 39. Alternatively, theprogram may be recorded to other recording media, such as a CD, amagneto-optic disk, a DVD, a memory card, a USB memory, a flexible disk.In this case, the program of the present invention is loaded to theflash memory 39 via a reproduction apparatus (or an interface)corresponding to the aforementioned recording media. Furthermore, theprogram of the present invention may be transferred to the flash memory39 via a network such as LAN, intranet, or the Internet. In other words,the program of the present may be loaded to the flash memory 39 via analternative apparatus or the like.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the optical disk15 is described having the same physical properties as a DVD type disk.Alternatively, the optical disk 15 may have the physical properties thatare the same as those of the next generation information recordingmedium, such as an information recording medium to which a laser beamhaving a wavelength of approximately 405 nm can be applied.

In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the optical pickupapparatus 23 is provided with a single semiconductor laser.Alternatively, the optical pickup apparatus 23 may be provided withmultiple semiconductor lasers that emit beams of different wavelengths.For example, the optical pickup apparatus 23 may be provided with atleast one of a semiconductor laser emitting a laser beam with awavelength of approximately 405 nm, a semiconductor laser emitting alaser beam with a wavelength of approximately 660 nm, a semiconductorlaser emitting a laser beam with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm.In other words, the optical disk apparatus 20 includes an optical diskapparatus which is compatible to multiple optical discs complying withvarious standards. In this case, at least one of the optical discs is anoptical disk having multiple layers.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, theinformation recording medium of the present invention is described asthe optical disk 15. Alternatively, the other types of informationrecording media may be employed. In such a case, an informationrecording apparatus applicable to the alternative information recordingmedium is used as an alternative of the optical disk apparatus 20.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, thedata area of each recording layer is virtually divided into four zonesfrom zone [N:0] to zone [N:3]. Alternatively, the data area of eachrecording layer may be virtually divided into more than four zones.Alternatively, the data area of each recording layer may not even bevirtually divided into multiple zones.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Next, with reference to FIGS. 25A-28C, a modified example of performingthe BGF process is described in a case where the data area of eachrecording layer is not virtually divided into multiple zones.

For the sake of convenience, it is supposed that the optical disk 15 hasuser data recorded thereto immediately after the initial process, and isthen ejected from the optical disk apparatus 20. Furthermore, user datais continuously recorded from the start address of the data area of therecording layer M0. Furthermore, the ejected optical disk 15 has logicalcompatibility with the single sided dual layer DVD-ROM.

The state of each recording layer is shown in FIG. 25A in a case wherethe initial process is completed. In this example, only a portion of thelead-in area is recorded. As shown in FIG. 26A, the managementinformation has a data structure including, for example, “identificationID”, “restriction information for unknown identification ID”, “driveID”, “update count”, “format status”, “last written address (LWA)”,“last verified address (LVA)”, “bitmap start address”, “bitmap length”,“disk ID”, “last unwritten address (LUA)” and “bitmap”. In other words,the management information in this example does not include a “zoneLWA”. It is to be noted that the positions of the “last written address(LWA)”, the “last unwritten address (LUA)”, and the “bitmap” are not tobe limited to the aforesaid positions.

It is to be noted that, management information may be provided to eachrecording layer as shown in FIG. 26B. In this case, the managementinformation of recording layer N includes, for example, “identificationID”, “restriction information for unknown identification ID”, “driveID”, “update count”, “format status”, “last written address (LWA) oflayer N”, “last verified address (LVA) of layer N”, “bitmap startaddress of layer N”, “bitmap length of layer N”, “disk ID”, “layernumber”, “last unwritten address (LUA)”, and “bitmap of layer N”. It isto be noted that the positions of the “last written address (LWA)”, the“last unwritten address (LUA) of layer N”, and the “bitmap of layer N”are not to be limited to the aforesaid positions.

When the initial process is completed, completion of the formattingprocess is reported to the upper apparatus 90 and user data can berecorded to the optical disk 15. Likewise to the above-describedembodiment of the present invention, the end address of the lead-in areais set as the initial value for the LWA, and the end address of the dataarea of the recording layer M1 is set as the initial value for the LUA.Furthermore, all of the bit values in the bitmap information area set as“1”.

After completion of the initial process, user data is recorded from thestart address of the data area of the recording layer M0 (See FIG. 25B)when recording of user data is requested. Then, the LWA is updated inaccordance with the recording of the user data, and the bit values ofthe bitmap information corresponding to the areas to which user data arerecorded is changed from “1” to “0”.

When disk ejection is requested during a state shown in FIG. 25B, dummydata is recorded to an unrecorded area following a correspondingposition in the data area of the recording layer M1 that corresponds tothe end position of the area to which data (in this example, user data)is recorded. Thus, the address preceding the area to which the dummydata is recorded becomes the new LUA. It is to be noted that, the bitvalues of the bitmap information corresponding to the area to whichdummy data is recorded remain unchanged as “1”.

Next, as shown in FIG. 25C, data is recorded to a temporary intermediatearea having a predetermined size, in which the temporary intermediatearea is provided at an area following the LWA in the recording layer M0and at an area preceding the LUA in the recording layer M1. Then, datais recorded to the lead-out area. Accordingly, an information areahaving no unrecorded area can be obtained. Thus, the optical disk 15 canattain logical compatibility with a DVD-ROM.

The following example describes a case where the optical disk 15 isejected from the optical disk apparatus 20 in the state shown in FIG.25C, then reinserted into the optical disk apparatus 20, and thensubject to processes of recording user data and disk ejection.

When the optical disk 15, being in a state where BGF process isunfinished, is reinserted into the optical disk apparatus 20, the BGFprocess of the optical disk 15 is restarted. In this case, user data canbe recorded to the optical disk 15 immediately. In this example, whenthe user request the user data to be recorded in the area following theLWA, the intermediate area of the recording layer M0 is overwritten bythe user data, as shown in FIG. 27A. Accordingly, the LWA is updated,and the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding to theoverwritten area are changed to “0”.

Next, in a case where disk ejection is requested when the optical disk15 is in a state shown in FIG. 27A, dummy data is recorded to anunrecorded area in a corresponding area (corresponding position) of M1,in which the unrecorded area is provided in correspondence with the endposition of the recorded area (in this example, the area recorded withuser data) of the recording layer M0, as shown in FIG. 27B. In thisexample, dummy data is recorded from an address in the recording layerM1 corresponding to the LWA of the recording layer M0 to the LUA of therecording layer M1. Accordingly, the address preceding the area to whichthe dummy data is recorded becomes the new LUA. It is to be noted that,the bit values of the bitmap information corresponding to the area towhich dummy data is recorded remain unchanged as “1”.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27C, data is recorded to a temporary intermediatearea having a predetermined size, in which the temporary intermediatearea is provided at an area following the LWA in the recording layer M0and at an area preceding the LUA in the recording layer M1. Accordingly,an information area having no unrecorded area can be obtained. Thus, theoptical disk 15 can attain logical compatibility with a DVD-ROM.

Likewise to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, thismodified example of the present invention is also able to providecompatibility with a read only memory information recording medium at ashort time.

The modified example of the present invention is described in relationwith the BGF process. In addition, besides a case of performing the BGFprocess, dummy data recorded in the recording layer M1 may also bemanaged according to, for example, LUA for sequentially recording datafrom the start position of the data area.

Next, FIG. 28A shows a case where there is a disk ejection requestduring (in the middle of) a BGF process for an optical disk 15 havinguser data recorded in an area following the LUA (referred to as“physical address X′”). It is to be noted that, the existence of userdata recorded in the area of physical address X′ can be recognized sincethe bit value of the bitmap information corresponding to the recordedarea is “0”. Such recognition is possible since the bit values of thebitmap information corresponding to the data area of the recording layerM1 are changed to “0” only when user data is recorded in the data areaof the recording layer M1. Accordingly, dummy data and user datafollowing the LUA can be clearly distinguished by referring to thebitmap information.

In this case, dummy data is recorded in the unrecorded area of the dataarea situated between the LWA of the recording layer M0 and the LUA ofthe recording layer M1. For example, as shown in FIG. 28B, dummy data isrecorded in the area between the LWA to the end address (in thisexample, M−1) of the data area in the recording layer M0, and in thearea between the start address of the data area in the recording layerM1 and the LUA.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28C, predetermined data is recorded to theintermediate layer of each recording layer, the remaining lead-in area,and the remaining lead-out area.

As described above, the process of providing logical compatibility for aDVD-ROM is different between a case where no user data is recorded inthe area following the LUA and a case where user data is recorded in thearea following the LUA. This difference exists since the allocation ofthe logical address corresponding to the data area in the recordinglayer M1 differs depending on the position of the intermediate area.

That is, at the point when user data is recorded in the area of physicaladdress X′ (See FIG. 28A), the intermediate area is set to a position ofphysical address M. Therefore, the logical address corresponding tophysical address X′ becomes (2M−X)−30000h. Hence, the recorded user data(e.g. file) is managed by the file management information together withthe corresponding logical address.

In this case, supposing that dummy data is recorded to an area betweenan address of a position (corresponding position) corresponding to theLWA (physical address indicated as N−1) and the LUA, and that temporaryintermediate areas are provided at an area following the LWA and at anarea preceding the corresponding position (in the same manner where nouser data is recorded in the area following the LUA), the logicaladdress of the user data corresponding to physical address X′ Becomes(2N−X)−30000h. Accordingly, this causes an undesired mismatch betweenthe location where the file is stored in the file management informationand the location where the actual data is recorded.

Therefore, from the aspect of obtaining a corresponding relation betweenthe physical address and the logical address in the recording layer M1,the position of the intermediate area cannot be changed after user datais recorded to the recording layer M1.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, butvarious variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application Nos.2004-179754 and 2004-187989 filed on Jun. 17, 2004, and Jun. 25, 2004,with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

1. A recording method for recording information to a rewritableinformation recording medium having at least a first recording layerprovided with a first data area having a plurality of first addressesallocated thereto and a second recording layer provided with a seconddata area having a plurality of second addresses allocated thereto, theplurality of first addresses of the first data area continuouslyincreasing in numerical value in a first direction with respect to aradial position of the recording medium, the plurality of secondaddresses of the second data area continuously increasing in numericalvalue in a second direction opposite to the first direction with respectto the radial position, the recording method comprising a step of:recording end recorded area information to the information recordingmedium, the end recorded area information including the largest endaddress of an unrecorded area among unrecorded areas in the second dataarea, wherein the end recorded area information identifies a recordedarea on the second data area having an end address corresponding to theend address of the second data area.
 2. A recording method for recordinginformation to a rewritable information recording medium having at leasta first recording layer provided with a first data area having aplurality of first addresses allocated thereto and a second recordinglayer provided with a second data area having a plurality of secondaddresses allocated thereto, the plurality of first addresses of thefirst data area continuously increasing in numerical value in a firstdirection with respect to a radial position of the recording medium, theplurality of second addresses of the second data area continuouslyincreasing in numerical value in a second direction opposite to thefirst direction with respect to the radial position, the recordingmethod comprising a step of: recording end recorded area information tothe information recording medium, the end recorded area informationincluding an address following the largest end address of an unrecordedarea among unrecorded areas in the second data area, wherein the endrecorded area information identifies a recorded area on the second dataarea having an end address corresponding to the end address of thesecond data area.
 3. A recording method for recording information to arewritable information recording medium having at least a firstrecording layer provided with a first data area having a plurality offirst addresses allocated thereto and a second recording layer providedwith a second data area having a plurality of second addresses allocatedthereto, the plurality of first addresses of the first data areacontinuously increasing in numerical value in a first direction withrespect to a radial position of the recording medium, the plurality ofsecond addresses of the second data area continuously increasing innumerical value in a second direction opposite to the first directionwith respect to the radial position, the recording method comprising astep of: recording end recorded area information to the informationrecording medium, the end recorded area information identifying arecorded area on the second data area having an end addresscorresponding to the end address of the second data area, said recordedarea being adjacent to an unrecorded area situated closest to an innerperiphery of the information recording medium having the largest endaddress among unrecorded areas in the second data area, and the endrecorded area information including the largest end address of theunrecorded area among the unrecorded areas in the second data area.
 4. Arecording method according to claim 3, wherein the end recorded areainformation includes an address following the largest end address of theunrecorded area situated closest to the inner periphery of theinformation recording medium among the unrecorded areas in the seconddata area.
 5. A recording method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein theend recorded area information includes pointer information indicating ahead address of the second data area.
 6. A recording method according toany one of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the end recorded area information isinformation related to an end position of an unrecorded area situated ata position in the second data area that is nearest to the end positionof the second data area.
 7. A recording method according to any one ofclaims 1, 2, 3, or 4 to 6, comprising recording to the informationrecording medium using a laser, wherein the first recording layer islocated closer to the laser than the second recording layer.
 8. Arecording method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 to 7,wherein the first direction is a direction oriented from an innerperiphery of the information recording medium to an outer periphery ofthe information recording medium, wherein the second direction is adirection oriented from the outer periphery of the information recordingmedium to the inner periphery of the information recording medium.
 9. Arecording method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 to 8,comprising recording reference recorded area information to theinformation recording medium for identifying an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a reference position provided in the seconddata area.
 10. A recording method according to any one of claims 1, 2,3, or 4 to 9, wherein the first data area and the second data area havelogical addresses continuing from a start position of the first dataarea to an end position of the second data area.
 11. A recording methodaccording to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 to 10, further comprisingrecording start recorded area information for identifying an area towhich data is continuously recorded from a start position of a combineddata area including the first data area and the second data area.
 12. Arecording method according to claim 11, wherein the start recorded areainformation is information related to an end position of an area towhich data is continuously recorded from the start position of thecombined data area.
 13. A recording method according to claim 12,wherein the start position of the combined data area is the lowestaddress of the first data area.
 14. A recording method according toclaim 13, wherein the start recorded area information includesinformation indicative of an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of the first data area inthe first recording layer, and information indicative of an end positionof an area to which data is continuously recorded from a start positionof the second data area in the second recording layer.
 15. A recordingmethod according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising:recording data for making the information recording medium compatiblewith a read only memory information recording medium by referring to thestart recorded area information and the end recorded area informationrecorded to the information area of the information recording medium.16. An information recording apparatus for recording information to arewritable information recording medium having at least a firstrecording layer provided with a first data area having a plurality offirst addresses allocated thereto and a second recording layer providedwith a second data area having a plurality of second addresses allocatedthereto, the plurality of first addresses of the first data areacontinuously increasing in numerical value in a first direction withrespect to a radial position of the recording medium, the plurality ofsecond addresses of the second data area continuously increasing innumerical value in a second direction opposite to the first directionwith respect to the radial position, the information recording apparatuscomprising: a recording part for recording data to a designatedrecording layer among the recording layers of the information recordingmedium; a process apparatus for recording end recorded area informationto the information recording medium via the recording part, the endrecorded area information including the largest end address of anunrecorded area among unrecorded areas in the second data area, whereinthe end recorded area information is arranged to identify a recordedarea on the second data area having an end address corresponding to theend address of the second data area.
 17. An information recordingapparatus for recording information to a rewritable informationrecording medium having at least a first recording layer provided with afirst data area having a plurality of first addresses allocated theretoand a second recording layer provided with a second data area having aplurality of second addresses allocated thereto, the plurality of firstaddresses of the first data area continuously increasing in numericalvalue in a first direction with respect to a radial position of therecording medium, the plurality of second addresses of the second dataarea continuously increasing in numerical value in a second directionopposite to the first direction with respect to the radial position, theinformation recording apparatus comprising: a recording part forrecording data to a designated recording layer among the recordinglayers of the information recording medium; a process apparatus forrecording end recorded area information to the information recordingmedium via the recording part, the end recorded area informationincluding an address following the largest end address of an unrecordedarea among unrecorded areas in the second data area, wherein the endrecorded area information is arranged to identify a recorded area on thesecond data area having an end address corresponding to the end addressof the second data area.
 18. An information recording apparatus forrecording information to a rewritable information recording mediumhaving at least a first recording layer provided with a first data areahaving a plurality of first addresses allocated thereto and a secondrecording layer provided with a second data area having a plurality ofsecond addresses allocated thereto, the plurality of first addresses ofthe first data area continuously increasing in numerical value in afirst direction with respect to a radial position of the recordingmedium, the plurality of second addresses of the second data areacontinuously increasing in numerical value in a second directionopposite to the first direction with respect to the radial position, theinformation recording apparatus comprising: a recording part forrecording data to a designated recording layer among the recordinglayers of the information recording medium; a process apparatus forrecording end recorded area information to the information recordingmedium via the recording part, the end recorded area information beingfor identifying a recorded area on the second data area having an endaddress corresponding to the end address of the second data area, saidrecorded area being adjacent to an unrecorded area situated closest toan inner periphery of the information recording medium having thelargest end address among unrecorded areas in the second data area, andthe end recorded area information including the largest end address ofthe unrecorded area among the unrecorded areas in the second data area.19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the end recorded areainformation includes an address following the largest end address of theunrecorded area situated closest to the inner periphery of theinformation recording medium among the unrecorded areas in the seconddata area.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the endrecorded area information includes pointer information indicating a headaddress of the second data area.
 21. Apparatus according to any one ofclaim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the end recorded area information isinformation related to an end position of an unrecorded area situated ata position in the second data area that is nearest to the end positionof the second data area.
 22. Apparatus according to any one of claims16, 17, 18, or 19 to 21, wherein the recording part is adapted to recordto the information recording medium using a laser, and the firstrecording layer is located closer to the laser than the second recordinglayer.
 23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16, 17, 18, or 19 to22, wherein the first direction is a direction oriented from an innerperiphery of the information recording medium to an outer periphery ofthe information recording medium, wherein the second direction is adirection oriented from the outer periphery of the information recordingmedium to the inner periphery of the information recording medium. 24.Apparatus according to any one of claims 16, 17, 18, or 19 to 23,wherein the process apparatus is arranged to record reference recordedarea information via the recording part, the record reference recordedarea information being for identifying an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a reference position provided in the seconddata area.
 25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16, 17, 18, or19 to 24, wherein the first data area and the second data area havelogical addresses continuing from a start position of the first dataarea to an end position of the second data area.
 26. Apparatus accordingto any one of claims 16, 17, 18, or 19 to 25, wherein the processapparatus is adapted to record start recorded area information to theinformation recording medium via the recording part, the start recordedarea information including information being for identifying an area towhich data is continuously recorded from a start position of a combineddata area including the first data area and the second data area. 27.Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the start recorded areainformation is information related to an end position of an area towhich data is continuously recorded from the start position of thecombined data area.
 28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein thestart position of the combined data area is the lowest address of thefirst data area.
 29. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the startrecorded area information includes information indicative of an endposition of an area to which data is continuously recorded from a startposition of the first data area in the first recording layer, andinformation indicative of an end position of an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of the second data area inthe second recording layer.
 30. Apparatus according to any one of claims16, 17, 18, or 19 to 29, wherein the apparatus is arranged such thatwhen dummy data is recorded to the second data area, the end recordedarea information is updated in correspondence with the area to which thedummy data is recorded.
 31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16,17, 18, or 19 to 30, wherein the process apparatus is further adapted torecord data for making the information recording medium compatible witha read only memory information recording medium via the recording partby referring to the start recorded area information and the end recordedarea information recorded to the information area of the informationrecording medium.
 32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein when thearea identified by the start recorded area information is entirelyincluded in the first data area, the process apparatus is arranged torecord dummy data, via the recording part, to an unrecorded areasituated between a position in the second data area situated at a sameradial position as an end position identified by the start recorded areainformation and a start position identified by the end recorded areainformation.
 33. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein when the areaidentified by the start recorded area information is entirely includedin the first data area, the process apparatus is arranged to recorddummy data, via the recording part, to an unrecorded area situatedbetween a position in the second data area with a bit inverted addressas an end position identified by the start recorded area information anda start position identified by the end recorded area information. 34.Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the process apparatus isarranged to record a first intermediate area data to an area followingthe identified area in the first data area via the recording part and torecord a second intermediate area data to an area in the second dataarea situated at a same radial position as the intermediate area in thefirst data area via the recording part.
 35. Apparatus according to claim32, wherein the process apparatus is arranged to record a firstintermediate area data to an area following the identified area in thefirst data area via the recording part and to record a secondintermediate area data to an area in the second data area situated atthe bit inverted address corresponding to the intermediate area in thefirst data area via the recording part.
 36. Apparatus according to anyone of claims 33 to 35, wherein the process apparatus is arranged toobtain identification information including information for identifyingan area in the second data area to which user data is recorded. 37.Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the identification informationfurther includes information for identifying an unrecorded area in thefirst data area.
 38. Apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 37,wherein the process apparatus is further adapted to obtainidentification information including information for identifying anarea, following the area identified by the start recorded areainformation, to which user data is recorded.
 39. Apparatus according toclaim 36, wherein when user data is recorded in the area identified bythe end recorded area information, the process apparatus is arranged torecord dummy data, via the recording part, to an unrecorded areasituated between an end position of the area identified by the startrecorded area information and a start position of the area identified bythe end recorded area information.
 40. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 26 to 39, further comprising a formatting part for formatting theinformation recording medium, wherein the first and second data areas ofthe first and second recording layers are divided into a plurality ofzones, wherein dummy data is recorded to the plural zones via therecording part and the information recording medium is formatted whenthere is no request for accessing the information recording medium. 41.Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the formatting part is arrangedto obtain reference recorded area information including information foridentifying an area to which data is continuously recorded from areference position, wherein the reference position is a start positionof one of the plural zones, wherein the one of the zones includes an endposition of an unrecorded area situated adjacent to an area identifiedby the end recorded area information.
 42. Apparatus according to claim40, wherein the start position of each zone is set as a referenceposition, wherein area information is set in correspondence with thezones for identifying the area to which data is continuously recordedfrom the reference position, wherein the formatting part obtains thearea information of one of zones as reference recorded area information,wherein the one of the zones includes an end position of an unrecordedarea situated adjacent to an area identified by the end recorded areainformation.
 43. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein in a case ofwhere the formatting part records dummy data to the one of the zones inthe second data area, the apparatus is arranged to record dummy data toan unrecorded area situated between an end position of an areaidentified by the reference recorded area information and a startposition of an area identified by the end recorded area information. 44.Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the process apparatus isfurther adapted to record the reference recorded area information to theinformation recording medium via the recording part.
 45. Apparatusaccording to claim 40, wherein the first direction of the first dataarea is a direction oriented from an inner periphery of the informationrecording medium to an outer periphery of the information recordingmedium, wherein the second direction of the second data area is adirection oriented from the outer periphery of the information recordingmedium to the inner periphery of the information recording medium,wherein among the zone including the start position of the unrecordedarea adjacent to the area identified by the start recorded areainformation and the zone including the end position of the unrecordedarea adjacent to the area identified by the end recorded areainformation, the formatting part is adapted to record dummy data fromthe zones situated toward the inner periphery of the informationrecording medium in a case where the end position of the area identifiedby the start recorded area information belongs to the first data area.46. A rewritable information recording medium having at least a firstrecording layer and a second recording layer, the information recordingmedium comprising: a first data area situated in the first recordinglayer, the first data area having a plurality of first addressesallocated thereto, the plurality of first addresses continuouslyincreasing in numerical value in a first direction with respect to aradial position of the recording medium; a second data area situated inthe second recording layer, the second data area having a plurality ofsecond addresses allocated thereto, the plurality of second addressescontinuously increasing in numerical value in a second directionopposite to the first direction with respect to the radial position; andan information area having an area for recording end recorded areainformation thereto, the end recorded area information including thelargest end address of an unrecorded area among unrecorded areas in thesecond data area, wherein the end recorded area information is foridentifying a recorded area on the second data area having an endaddress corresponding to the end address of the second data area.
 47. Arewritable information recording medium having at least a firstrecording layer and a second recording layer, the information recordingmedium comprising: a first data area situated in the first recordinglayer, the first data area having a plurality of first addressesallocated thereto, the plurality of first addresses continuouslyincreasing in numerical value in a first direction with respect to aradial position of the recording medium; a second data area situated inthe second recording layer, the second data area having a plurality ofsecond addresses allocated thereto, the plurality of second addressescontinuously increasing in numerical value in a second directionopposite to the first direction with respect to the radial position; andan information area having an area for recording end recorded areainformation thereto, the end recorded area information including anaddress following the largest end address of an unrecorded area amongunrecorded areas in the second data area, wherein the end recorded areainformation is for identifying a recorded area on the second data areahaving an end address corresponding to the end address of the seconddata area.
 48. A rewritable information recording medium having at leasta first recording layer and a second recording layer, the informationrecording medium comprising: a first data area situated in the firstrecording layer, the first data area having a plurality of firstaddresses allocated thereto, the plurality of first addressescontinuously increasing in numerical value in a first direction withrespect to a radial position of the recording medium; a second data areasituated in the second recording layer, the second data area having aplurality of second addresses allocated thereto, the plurality of secondaddresses continuously increasing in numerical value in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction with respect to the radialposition; and an information area having an area for recording endrecorded area information thereto, the end recorded area informationbeing for identifying a recorded area on the second data area having anend address corresponding to the end address of the second data area,said recorded area being adjacent to an unrecorded area situated closestto an inner periphery of the information recording medium having thelargest end address among unrecorded areas in the second data area, andthe end recorded area information including the largest end address ofthe unrecorded area among the unrecorded areas in the second data area.49. An information recording medium according to claim 48, wherein theend recorded area information includes an address following the largestend address of the unrecorded area situated closest to the innerperiphery of the information recording medium among the unrecorded areasin the second data area.
 50. An information recording medium accordingto any one of claim 48 or 49, wherein the end recorded area informationincludes pointer information indicating a head address of the seconddata area.
 51. An information recording medium according to any one ofclaim 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50, wherein the end recorded area informationis information related to an end position of an unrecorded area situatedat a position in the second data area that is nearest to the endposition of the second data area.
 52. An information recording mediumaccording to any one of claims 46, 47, 48, or 49 to 51, wherein theinformation recording medium is adapted to be read or recorded by alaser, and the first recording layer is located closer to the laser thanthe second recording layer.
 53. An information recording mediumaccording to any one of claims 46, 47, 48, or 49 to 52, wherein thefirst direction is a direction oriented from an inner periphery of theinformation recording medium to an outer periphery of the informationrecording medium, wherein the second direction is a direction orientedfrom the outer periphery of the information recording medium to theinner periphery of the information recording medium.
 54. An informationrecording medium according to any one of claims 46, 47, 48, or 49 to 53,wherein the management information area further includes referencerecorded area information for identifying an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a reference position provided in the seconddata area.
 55. An information recording medium according to any one ofclaims 46, 47, 48, or 49 to 54, wherein the first data area and thesecond data area have logical addresses continuing from a start positionof the first data area to an end position of the second data area. 56.An information recording medium according to any one of claims 46, 47,48, or 49 to 55, wherein the information area further includes startrecorded area information for identifying an area to which data iscontinuously recorded from a start position of a combined data areaincluding the first data area and the second data area.
 57. Aninformation recording medium according to claim 56, wherein the startrecorded area information is information related to an end position ofan area to which data is continuously recorded from the start positionof the combined data area.
 58. An information recording medium accordingto claim 57, wherein the start position of the combined data area is thelowest address of the first data area.
 59. An information recordingmedium according to claim 56, wherein the start recorded areainformation includes information indicative of an end position of anarea to which data is continuously recorded from a start position of thefirst data area in the first recording layer, and information indicativeof an end position of an area to which data is continuously recordedfrom a start position of the second data area in the second recordinglayer.
 60. A data structure of information for being recorded to theinformation area in the information recording medium in claim 46, thedata structure comprising: end recorded area information including thelargest address of unrecorded area in the second data area.
 61. A datastructure of information for being recorded to the information area inthe information recording medium in claim 47, the data structurecomprising: end recorded area information including an address followingthe largest address of unrecorded area in the second data area.
 62. Adata structure of information for being recorded to the information areain the information recording medium in claim 48, the data structurecomprising: end recorded area information for identifying a recordedarea on the second data area having an end address corresponding to theend address of the second data area, said recorded area being adjacentan area having the largest address among unrecorded area on the seconddata area.
 63. A program for causing a computer of an informationrecording apparatus to carry out the method of any one of claims 1, 2,3, or 4 to
 15. 64. A computer readable medium comprising: the program inclaim 63.